Aiming for a third championship in four years, Dawn Staley and her Gamecocks were hit with a harsh March Madness reality–sometimes, things just don’t go your way. The UConn Huskies steamrolled the defending champions, winning their 12th championship, leaving South Carolina stunned. No one saw a 23-point blowout coming, but there they were. Yet, it wasn’t the time for despair. It was time to dig into the Transfer Portal and bring in new pieces to reclaim the title. But then, things took an unexpected turn. It was something fans were definitely not prepared for.

South Carolina women’s basketball will face a major change next season as sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley has made the decision to enter the transfer portal. Losing a hometown star like Fulwiley, who brought Columbia’s heart to the court, feels like a punch to the gut for Staley’s program. It’s not just about her stats—it’s about what she meant to the team’s soul.

Fulwiley, a standout at Keenan High School in Columbia, spent two seasons with her hometown team. During her time at South Carolina, she played a pivotal role in helping the Gamecocks secure a national championship and reach the championship game this season.

Fulwiley put up solid numbers this season — averaging 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Her impact didn’t go unnoticed. She earned All-SEC honors and was named the SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year. In fact, she was South Carolina’s second-highest scorer and easily one of their most reliable contributors.

But behind the scenes, things weren’t as smooth. Word is, Fulwiley sometimes felt stifled, wanting to run the show more than her role allowed. With new faces joining and minutes getting tight, she started looking for a place to spread her wings.

So, on the surface, her decision to enter the transfer portal might seem puzzling to some. But look a little closer, and it actually starts to make a lot more sense.

Earlier this week, big news dropped from Columbia. The Gamecocks landed the NCAA’s 2024-25 leading scorer, Ta’Niya Latson, from Florida State via the transfer portal. On top of that, senior guard Raven Johnson announced she’d be returning for another season to lead the backcourt of Dawn Staley’s team. Naturally, the guard rotation started looking way too crowded. It became stacked!  So, MiLaysia Fulwiley’s decision to enter the portal? Honestly, it wasn’t all that surprising. She wanted more minutes, a bigger role, and a chance to shine. And to be fair–she’s more than earned the right to want that.

We’re talking about the No. 13 prospect in the nation when she committed to South Carolina in the class of 2023. She scored over 3,000 points in high school and lead the Keenan Raiders to four state championships. She was also one of the most marketable players on the roster and in women’s basketball.

MiLaysia Fulwiley and her NIL deal with Curry

Fulwiley made major waves off the court too. In March 2024, she became the first college athlete to land a name, image, and likeness deal with none other than Stephen Curry’s Curry Brand. Big-time move. Just last month, Curry was spotted walking into Chase Center repping Fulwiley’s “Playa Society” T-shirt, complete with a caricature of her in her South Carolina uniform.

She even has her own shoe!  The Curry Brand Grade MF12 “Butta” dropped right after the Gamecocks’ first-round win in the NCAA Tournament. And that wasn’t her first either. Back in February, the “FamLAY” Garnet and Black sneakers were released—those were the kicks she rocked during the championship game. This just goes to show how marketable she is as an athlete!

It’s still up in the air where MiLaysia Fulwiley will land next. But one thing’s for sure—whoever gets her is getting a serious baller. Many fans felt she was underused at South Carolina by Dawn Staley. Despite being one of the team’s most consistent performers, Fulwiley averaged just 19 minutes per game. That left a lot of people scratching their heads. Now, she gets a fresh start. A new system. A new coach. And maybe, just maybe, the keys to a team. This could be her chance to truly shine–just like Hailey Van Lith did after leaving the LSU Tigers.